Domaine A.F. Gros : Richebourg Grand cru Domaine 2020

Characteristics and Tasting Notes of the Richebourg Grand Cru 2020 – Domaine A.F. Gros

Tasting

Color

Although no detailed tasting note on the hue has been published, the warm and concentrated character of the 2020 vintage, combined with the old vines of this parcel, suggests a deep, richly colored robe, likely ruby to dark garnet, typical of a bold and opulent Vosne-Romanée grand cru from a sun-drenched year.

Nose

The nose opens on a floral register of violets, followed by infused fruit and black cherry notes, giving way to touches of pepper, toasted oak and cherry. This combination reflects the richness of the 2020 vintage, layering fruit, spice and a subtle oak-driven complexity.

Palate

The palate is rich, gourmand and suave, built on a fine balance between concentration and finesse. The texture is silky, carried by ripe, velvety tannins and a mineral backbone that brings tension and lift. The finish is long and distinctly spicy, closing the wine with remarkable elegance and classiness.

Food and wine pairings

This Richebourg pairs beautifully with roasted or braised meats of character, such as beef Wellington, roasted squab, wild duck or venison served with a red wine and berry reduction. It also shines alongside refined poultry, like a truffled Bresse chicken or roasted capon with wild mushrooms, as well as dishes built around black truffle. For cheese, an aged Comté or Beaufort offers a balanced, mellow match without overpowering the wine's elegance.

Serving and cellaring

The Richebourg Grand Cru 2020 Domaine A.F. Gros is best served at a temperature of around 15 to 16°C. According to the Guide Hachette des Vins, this cuvée is recommended for enjoyment between 2025 and 2032.

Other characteristics

This wine reaches an alcohol content of 13.5%, consistent with a warm yet balanced vintage, and is bottled in the standard 0.75 L format.

Richebourg Grand Cru: a Vosne-Romanée wine shaped by the generosity of the 2020 vintage

The Estate

Domaine A.F. Gros was founded in 1988 in Pommard, Burgundy, through the union of Anne-Françoise Gros, heiress to part of the historic Gros family vineyards in Vosne-Romanée, and her husband François Parent, a winemaker from Pommard. Today, the estate is run by their children, Caroline and Mathias Parent, who took over management in 2013. Caroline oversees commercial development while Mathias leads viticulture and winemaking. The estate spans roughly 14 hectares across Pommard, Vosne-Romanée and Moulin-à-Vent, combining prestigious Côte de Nuits grand crus with Côte de Beaune premier crus, under a philosophy of sustainable viticulture and precise, terroir-focused winemaking.

The Vineyard

This cuvée comes from a 0.6-hectare parcel located in the upper section of the Richebourg grand cru, one of the most celebrated climats of Vosne-Romanée, close to the famed Romanée-Conti vineyard. Planted with very old vines, the parcel rests on limestone and clay soils at an altitude of roughly 260 to 280 meters, benefiting from an exposure that favors steady ripening while preserving freshness, a key factor in the wine's aging potential.

The Vintage

The 2020 growing season in Burgundy was marked by a hot, dry and early summer, continuing a trend seen in recent vintages. However, cooler nighttime temperatures during the summer helped preserve acidity and freshness in the grapes, resulting in wines that combine density and vivacity, ripe fruit and refined structure.

Winemaking and aging

Grapes for the Richebourg Grand Cru 2020 Domaine A.F. Gros are harvested entirely by hand, following a meticulous double sorting process. The fruit is fully destemmed before undergoing a four- to five-day cold maceration to gently extract color and aroma. During fermentation, a daily délestage technique is used to ensure even, controlled extraction. Malolactic fermentation takes place in oak barrels, and the wine is then aged for approximately 18 months, with a notably high proportion of new oak, reflecting the ambition reserved for the estate's grand crus.

Grape Varieties

100% pinot noir.